Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Charging battery while towing. Post Reply Post New Topic
Personneilandali
03/8/2012 at 11:01pm
 Location: wigan
 Outfit: Swift Challenger Toyota Landcruiser View neilandali's Profile View Profile   Reply to neilandali Reply   Quote neilandali Quote  
Joined: 06/8/2004

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   43
Site Reviews Total: 6
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
This is a very basic query, but if I am towing with black and white towing sockets connected, does the caravan battery get charged up.

Any advice would be appreciated


Persontango55
03/8/2012 at 11:06pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9587
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 24
Site Nights 2018: 0
They are called 12N (black) and 12S (white/grey). The black one is solely for the lights and indicators on the rear of the caravan and the white/grey is for charging the caravan leisure battery and operating the fridge on 12 volt power plus I think that the rear fog lights (if fitted) also are powered via the white/grey socket too.

Post last edited on 03/08/2012 23:12:08


Personneilandali
03/8/2012 at 11:25pm
 Location: wigan
 Outfit: Swift Challenger Toyota Landcruiser View neilandali's Profile View Profile   Reply to neilandali Reply   Quote neilandali Quote  
Joined: 06/8/2004

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   43
Site Reviews Total: 6
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Thank you


Persontango55
03/8/2012 at 11:48pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9587
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 24
Site Nights 2018: 0
You're welcome


Persontango55
03/8/2012 at 11:56pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9587
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 24
Site Nights 2018: 0
Make sure that the car/van rocker switch inside the caravan is switched over to the car position after you have connected up the 12S plug and socket though otherwise there won't be any power coming through to charge the leisure battery. There are 3 positions on the rocker switch which is car, van and neutral (centre position) and I always switch it to neutral first before connecting up otherwise as there is a live feed coming from the car it could possibly blow a fuse if you get a spark upon connection. Once connected then switch to the car position and the gauge should read about 13 volts which indicates that the power is being transferred from the towcar to the caravan.


Advertisement



Persontimtheenchanter
04/8/2012 at 10:10am
 Location: Yeadon Leeds!
 Outfit: Swift Challenger & Defender 110SW View timtheenchanter's Profile View Profile   Reply to timtheenchanter Reply   Quote timtheenchanter Quote  
Joined: 27/6/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3331
Site Reviews Total: 10
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 03/8/2012
Make sure that the car/van rocker switch inside the caravan is switched over to the car position after you have connected up the 12S plug and socket though otherwise there won't be any power coming through to charge the leisure battery. There are 3 positions on the rocker switch which is car, van and neutral (centre position) and I always switch it to neutral first before connecting up otherwise as there is a live feed coming from the car it could possibly blow a fuse if you get a spark upon connection. Once connected then switch to the car position and the gauge should read about 13 volts which indicates that the power is being transferred from the towcar to the caravan.


that is incorrect.
The switch has no bearing on the charging of the battery, mine charges regardless of the switch position.
The switch simply chooses where the 12V power for the van comes from, the leisure battery or the 12S socket.

The switch/power selector draws its power from a different pin on the 12S socket, one that is permanantly live.
the battery and fridge are fed from pins that are only live when the engine is running (usually needs 2-2.5K revs to prevent the van fridge, or discharged battery pulling power from the towcar, and leaving it with a flat battery.
The 12V switch should be off when towing.


Persontango55
04/8/2012 at 10:21am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9587
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 24
Site Nights 2018: 0
When the rocker switch is in the central neutral position it registers '0' at the power gauge therefore I understood that no power from the towcar car was being delivered and that you needed the rocker switch on the car position with the gauge showing the electrical current from the towcar car in order to charge the leisure battery. So what you are saying is that even when the rocker switch is on the neutral position an electrical feed is still currently being delivered via the 12S supply?


PersonDaveCoaches
05/8/2012 at 4:00pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche View DaveCoaches's Profile View Profile   Reply to DaveCoaches Reply   Quote DaveCoaches Quote  
Joined: 30/7/2011

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1247
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
The fog lights are powered by the blue wire on the 12N. The Reversing lights (where fitted) run from the 12S socket.

When the 12S is connected and the car engine is running, the habitation relay overrides the switches so that the battery charges and the fridge is powered. If you switch the engine off, the relay drops out and the car / Van switch enables you to draw power from the car battery rather than the leisure battery. It still doesn't charge the leisure battery or power the fridge though. If the engine is running then the caravan's internal electrics should be switched off by the habitation relay, only allowing the charging circuits and the fridge to work.


Personsunshinetours
08/8/2012 at 3:03pm
 Location: sunny south east!
 Outfit: Coachman View sunshinetours's Profile View Profile   Reply to sunshinetours Reply   Quote sunshinetours Quote  
Joined: 08/5/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2946
Site Reviews Total: 18
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
So to run the fridge on 12v to keep it cool (will pre cool it on EHU at home) just need to flick the fridge switch to 12v and not touch anything else on the car/van rocker switch ie leave it on neutral/middle position?


PersonDaveCoaches
13/8/2012 at 10:32am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche View DaveCoaches's Profile View Profile   Reply to DaveCoaches Reply   Quote DaveCoaches Quote  
Joined: 30/7/2011

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1247
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Switch the fridge to 12volts. The rocker switch shouldn't make any difference as the habitation relay overrides it.



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...

8687 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement
Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder